Friedrich Paulus (1890-1957), who commanded Germany’s Sixth Army in World War II and lost the Battle of Stalingrad, was taken captive in 1943. In a little-known episode of wartime history, Soviet authorities convinced him to renounce Hitler and work as a propagandist for Moscow.
By January 1943, the defeat of the Nazi Army in the Battle of Stalingrad was obvious. This monumental clash that changed the course of World War II lasted six and a half months. The USSR lost more than 1 million soldiers, while German deaths were 950,000. The Sixth Army under the command of Lt. General Friedrich Paulus was eventually surrounded and destroyed.
On the second to last day of the battle, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler promoted Paulus to the second highest military rank - field marshal. In his last message, Hitler made a clear order: "not one German field marshal has ever been taken prisoner." Hitler expected Paulus to commit suicide, but the field marshal chose life and surrendered on January 31, 1943.
